Your Day 5 Cannes Report

Dear Readers, today, sitting in the Debussy Theater, I was inspired by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear one of the great visionaries of our time address our community. Former President Bill Clinton called on the advertising industry to join forces with the non-profit voices of his foundation to help make the world a better place.

Best Conference of the Day: How Advertising Can Help Build a Better World

Some of the most inspiring people I’ve met in this industry are also visionaries. They not only sell you their ideas, but also their hopes and dreams of creating work that touches our lives, inspiring and improving them. On those rare occasions, advertising transcends it’s sales oriented intentions to become a part of our cultural lexicon, occasionally changing us as a society.

A fine example of that rare, remarkable project is Crispin Porter + Bogusky’s Small Business Gets An Official Day campaign. It took home the Promo & Activation Grand Prix for its ability to inspire change, not only for American Express customers, but also provoking a social and political conversation garnering government support to help push small business and the US economy further. I encourage you to take a moment and check it out here.

The former President praised some of the entertaining ad work out there, but he asked our community to be more involved to help solve the problems the world’s facing. How to provide vaccinations for children worldwide, or how to best promote reducing our dependency on oil while promoting clean industry in Latin America. Sure they’re big issues, but he pointed out that they’re all problems that can start to be addressed with a message about change. And, that’s where we come in! His message was a call to action, and I do hope we – as an industry – take hi up on the challenge.

Go here to learn more about The Clinton Foundation and their worldwide initiatives.

Check back on Monday for a look back at the last few days of the festival and the closing gala.

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